Serena Williams' Husband Alexis Ohanian Is Leaving Reddit to Focus More on Their Baby Daughter and Here's Why That's a Win for Dads

Many a new parent has found help and solace on Reddit, thanks to boards like New Parents, Parenting, and even Parenting Fails. But now a new parent is embracing his role as daddy by leaving Reddit — specifically, its co-founder, Alexis Ohanian. Ohanian just announced he’s stepping down from one of the biggest sites on the internet in order to spend more time with his five-month-old daughter, Alexis Olympia (whom he adorably calls “Junior”).

With tennis superstar Serena Williams as mom and tech giant Ohanian as dad, baby Olympia has two very high-profile parents, both with important jobs. Yet Ohanian’s announcement that he would be quitting his full-time job to focus on Olympia was met with some surprise. While speculation over when Williams would return to tennis had been rampant since the second she gave birth, no one ever questioned his commitment to his career, he noted in an interview with Fortune. And blowing up this double standard was one of the reasons he was excited to take his parental leave, he added.

Another, even sweeter reason, is that he wanted to keep “a promise he made to his little poppy seed” and that her birth had triggered a “newfound superpower and sense of purpose” as a dad.

Kudos to both Ohanian and Williams for making this choice and for sharing it with the world. Stay-at-home dads or dads who do most of the caregiving can be every bit as nurturing and conscientious as their female counterparts yet they are often looked at with confusion or even disgust. It’s time to ditch this negative stereotype, says Gary Brown, Ph.D., a licensed marriage and family therapist in Los Angeles — himself a proud father of three daughters and a son.

"Seventy five years ago fathers weren't even allowed in the delivery room and now dads have the opportunity to be there from the very beginning," he says. Fathers today are much more informed and involved with their children, taking an active part in feeding, diaper changes, soothing, playing and bedtime routines, he adds.

This early, close relationship has powerful benefits for kids, especially for girls. Young girls with involved dads are less prone to depression and anxiety, according to a study published in the Journal of Family Psychology, and they’re far less likely to go hungry, to live in poverty, and more likely to have better physical health, according to a second study. As they grow up, they report higher self-esteem and a greater sense of well-being, according to a study published in the Journal of North American Psychology.

Of course, Ohanian and Williams are in a very privileged position to do this. Both of them could probably retire today and still provide a fabulous life for their family. Many fathers (and mothers, for that matter) would love to take an extended period of time off when their babies are born but that simply isn’t financially feasible — babies are super expensive, after all. Ohanian said this experience has really driven home how important family leave policies are and he wishes that every dad had the same opportunity he does. (Fact: The U.S. is one of the only developed nations that offers no paid parental leave. The Family and Medical Leave Act allows parents up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave.)

Referring to Williams’ health complications after giving birth and how important it was that he be there to care for her and their baby, Ohanian told Fortune, “That really put into perspective how important these policies are. I was a believer before, but now I whole-heartedly believe that every single dad should take [parental leave].”

If that’s his mission, he’s off to a good start! His example is a powerful one, showing not only how important parental leave is for dads but that it’s a really cool thing to do. (Olympia’s Instagram is a testament to how very much he is enjoying fatherhood!)

"I see too many men who are locked into their own narrow view of what it means to be a father,” Brown says. “They believe that their only role is as a provider and protector, and they end up working too much and missing out on those wonderful bonding moments. It just doesn’t have to be that way at all."